Locking apparatus for set of swinging doors

ABSTRACT

A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors having a main assembly to be fixed to a stationary wall of a locker or the like and a pair of engaging members to be attached to the doors, said main assembly comprising a rectangular tubular frame provided with opposite end openings, two sliding members movably slidably inserted into said frame with the surfaces thereof being partly exposed from said openings, a spring interposed between said sliding members, and a movable member adapted to move together with either of said sliding members and having one end exposed from the opening of said frame where the other end of the sliding members is positioned so as to form an abutting surface, said engaging members having engaging profiles for engagement with said sliding members, at least one of said engaging members being provided with a surface to be brought in contact with the abutting surface of said movable member, whereby at least one of the doors, when a set of the doors is in closed position, may be automatically locked in position, while it is automatically released from the locking restriction for opening operation upon the opening of the other door.

United States Patent [72] Inventor ZenziTutikawa 682-4, Hiranonagare-cho, Illgashkumlyoshi-ku, Osaka, J span [21] Appl. No. 874,843 122] Filed Nov. 7,1969 [45] Patented June 8,1971

[54] LOCKING APPARATUS FOR SET OF SWINGING DOORS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 292/16, 292/71 [51] lnt.Cl 1205c 19/02 [50] Field at Search 292/4, 5, 6, 14,15, 16, l7, 18, 71,74, 75, 191, 192,DIG. 3; 49/366, 394

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,013,553 1/1912 Johnson 292/16 1,244,443 10/1917 Hurd 292/92 2,497,405 2/1950 Yost 292/38 2,686,071 8/1954 Saxton 292/71 Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind and Ponack ABSTRACT: A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors having a main assembly to be fixed to a stationary wall of a locker or the like and a pair of engaging members to be attached to the doors, said main assembly comprising a rectangular tubular frame provided with opposite end openings, two sliding members movably slidably inserted into said frame with the surfaces thereof being partly exposed from said openings, a spring interposed between said sliding members, and a movable member adapted to move together with either of said sliding members and having one end exposed from the opening of said frame where the other end of the sliding members is positioned so as to form an abutting surface, said engaging members having engaging profiles for engagement with said sliding members, at least one of said engaging members being provided with a surface to be brought in contact with the abutting surface of said movable member, whereby at least one of the doors, when a set of the doors is in closed position, may be automatically locked in position, while it is automatically released from the locking restriction for opening operation upon the opening of the other door.

m WA WM NM T U T D N E z PATENTED JUN 8 l97l ATTORNEYS LOCKING APPARATUS FOR SET OF SWINGING DOORS The present invention relates to a locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors which are moved on pivots or hinges.

Conventionally, the most simple of the locking system for this type of doors is provided by the engagement between an engaging portion resiliently projecting from the side of one door which faces the other and a concave portion formed in the surface of the other door in facing relation therewith. Such engagement, however, is defective in that frequently the doors are readily moved into disengagement with a slight force and unintentionally brought to the open position due to vibration or the like.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel locking apparatus having a simple structure by which at least one of the doors, when a set of the doors in a closed position, is automatically locked in position thereby precluding the above-mentioned defect, while it is automatically released from the locking restriction for opening operation upon the opening of the other door.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main assembly of the locking apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main assembly taken along the line 2-2 shown in the F l6. 1;

HO. 3 is a sectional view of the main assembly taken along the line 3-3 shown in the FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an engaging member of the locking apparatus according to the present invention and MG. 5 is a perspective view of a main assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 2.

A locking apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a main assembly A to be fixed to the back surface of the upper wall, for example, of a locker or the like and a pair of engaging members B and B to be attached respectively to the inside of the doors thereof.

The main assembly A has a rectangular tubular frame 2 formed on the lower surface of a base plate 1 and provided with opposite end openings and two sliding members 3 and 3' inserted in the frame 2 in movable and slidable manner with portions of triangular surfaces thereof outwardly exposed from the openings. Although the sliding members 3 and 3 are subjected to outward pressure exerted by a spring 4 interposed therebetween, they are prevented from being further projected outwardly by bent portions 6 and 6 formed in the ends of walls 5 and 5 of the frame 2. Further between the sliding members 3 and 3 and a bottom wall 7 of the frame is disposed a movable member 8, whose one end is projected from either of the openings of the frame 2 and downwardly bent to thereby provide a flat surface 9 to be brought into contact with one of the engaging members which are discussed hereinafter. The other end of the movable member 8 is provided with a protrusion 10 for engagement with the triangular surface of the sliding member 3'. Accordingly, it will be readily understood that when the sliding member 3' is moved leftward in the Figures, the member 8 is also moved together therewith and that the returning movement thereof is effected by the spring 4.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the engaging members B and B to be fixed to the doors comprise an triangular concave portion 12 to be engaged with the sliding member, a fastening piece 13 for securing the member to the door and a guide roll 14 disposed vertically in an end portion for ensuring smooth engaging action. Still at least said one engaging member B has a straight edge 11 to be brought into contact with the flat surface 9 of the movable member 8.

FIG. 3 shows the engaging members B and B projecting from the doors l5 and 15 as they are in engagement with sliding members 3 and 3 of the main assembly A. In this position, the abutting surface 9 formed on one end portion of the movable member 8 contacts with the strai ht edge 11 of the enga mg member B, with the other end 0 the movable member bearing against the sliding member 3', so that the movable member is prevented from movement and the sliding member 3' is also locked in position. Thus, the engaging member B is perfectly locked in engagement with the sliding member 3' thereby holding the door 15' in the closed position against disengagement.

On the other hand, since the sliding member 3 in engagement with the engaging member B projecting from the other door 15 is free to move against the pressure of the spring 4, the engaging member 8, when pulled outwardly, can be moved out of the engagement with the sliding member 3, whereupon the door 15 can readily be swung open. When the door 15 is disengaged into the open position, the movable member 8 is released from the restriction, and accordingly, it is possible for the sliding member 3 to move toward a direction against the. pressure of the spring 4. The door 15 is now ready to be swung open.

it should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding members 3 and 3' in the foregoing structure of the present invention may be formed as short cylindrical sliding members 3A and 3A and supported in a frame in freely rotatable manner. In this case, concave portions of the engaging members also will be formed in an arcuate shape. Therefore, when the engaging members B and B are brought into or out of engagement therewith, the sliding members are moved while being rotated, ensuring smooth operation of engagement or disengagement with small force. Thus the apparatus of the present invention can be formed of a relatively inferior or thin plate material.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and described by departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

The claims I am defining in the invention are as follows:

1. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors having a main assembly to be fixed to a stationary wall of a locker or the like and a pair of engaging members to be attached to the doors, said main assembly comprising a rectangular tubular frame provided with opposite end openings, two sliding members movably slidably inserted into said frame with the surfaces thereof being partly exposed from said openings, a spring interposed between said sliding members, and a movable member movable together with either of said sliding members and having one end exposed from the opening of said frame where the other end of the sliding members is positioned so as to form an abutting surface, said engaging members having engaging profiles for engagement with said sliding members, at least either one of said engaging members being provided with a surface to be brought in contact with the abutting surface of said movable member.

2. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said sliding members is provided with a triangular surface exposed from said openings, and movably carried by said rectangular tubular frame.

3. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors as claimed in claim 1, in which said movable member is disposed between the sliding members and a bottom wall of the frame, whose one end is projected from either of the openings of the frame and downwardly bent to thereby provide a flat surface to be brought into contact with one of the engaging members. 

1. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors having a main assembly to be fixed to a stationary wall of a Locker or the like and a pair of engaging members to be attached to the doors, said main assembly comprising a rectangular tubular frame provided with opposite end openings, two sliding members movably slidably inserted into said frame with the surfaces thereof being partly exposed from said openings, a spring interposed between said sliding members, and a movable member movable together with either of said sliding members and having one end exposed from the opening of said frame where the other end of the sliding members is positioned so as to form an abutting surface, said engaging members having engaging profiles for engagement with said sliding members, at least either one of said engaging members being provided with a surface to be brought in contact with the abutting surface of said movable member.
 2. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said sliding members is provided with a triangular surface exposed from said openings, and movably carried by said rectangular tubular frame.
 3. A locking apparatus for a set of swinging doors as claimed in claim 1, in which said movable member is disposed between the sliding members and a bottom wall of the frame, whose one end is projected from either of the openings of the frame and downwardly bent to thereby provide a flat surface to be brought into contact with one of the engaging members. 